Carton or container



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 18, 1944. w. A. RINGLER CARTON OR CONTAINER Filed Feb. 7, 1942 INVENTOR July 18, 1944.

w. A. RINGLER Y I CARTON OR CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1942 ZO b I I 1 W20 20c TiEEI INVENTOR= l/( G718 A. Rm

July 18, 1944. w. A. RINGLER CARTON OR CONTAINER Filed Feb. 7. 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Lam/LE2! HI flown |ll|||| III l I l l ll Patented July 18, 1944 CARTON R CONTAINER William A. Ringler, Wayne, -Pa., assignor to National Folding OX Company, New Haven, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 7, 1942, Serial No. 429,846

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to cartons or containers which may be reduced in size during use.

More specifically the invention pertains to improvements in cartons or containers constructed to be reduced in size and corresponding capacity, preferably by simple tearing or other severing, each carton or container having an outer slidable shell, or equivalent cooperating part, and closure flaps for jointly eiiecting the closure of the dispensing opening of the carton or container and maintaining the slide shell in secured position relative to the body of the carton or container.

In the more preferred embodiments of the invention, the dispensing opening of the body is disposed at One end, usually held or placed .in

upward position and the closure flaps are integral or otherwise secured to the material of the carton or container to project into and to be moved within the zone of such dispensing opening.

Advantageously the body of the carton or .container has a closure flap integral therewith-or otherwise secured thereto, cooperating with closure'fiaps of the slidable outer shell, for attaining the objects of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention are preferably in the form of folded boxes manufacturedfrom flexibly resilient sheet material, such as cardboard or other suitable paper stock or like material.

It is desirable to dimension the outer or slide shell to provide for a fairly snug flt with the walls of the body part of the carton or container, for preventing unintended movement of the shell relative to the body part. Embodiments of the invention may comprise means for fixedly positioning the outer or slide shell relative to the body part, which positioning means is supplemental to the closure flaps and whereby the outer or slide shell may be fixedly positioned when the closure flaps are in open position.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a carton or container, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in full size, shown in open position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 1 illustrating the relative movements of the respective parts of the carton or container preparatory to reducing the size of the carton or container. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the u per portion of the carton or container of Fig. 1 indicating the application of a revenue stamp or other sealing medium for sealing the carton or container prior to the stage of dispensing its contents. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal central sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the carton or container when reduced in size, the cover flap being shown in closed position. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of 'Fig. 5, showing the cover flap in open position.

Fig, 7 is a perspective view of another embodi ment of the invention. Fig. Bis a longitudinal.

central sectional view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 ma plan view of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a form of blank of the body part of the embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, illustratingthe same in full size and the closure flaps in open position. Fig. 11 is a perspectiv view of the embodiment of Fig. 10 illustrating the same. Fig. 12 is a detail enlarged sectional view on line I 2- of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a typical blank for forming the outer shell of the embodiments shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12. Fig. 14 is a plan view of a typical blank for forming the body part of the embodiment shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 6, the same comprises the body part 20 adapted to be charged with the contents to be dispensed, an outer shell 2|. telescopically and slidably related to the body part 20, and the coacting closure flaps, designated generally 22, for jointly closing the dispensing opening of the body, part 20 and for retaining the outer shell 2| in secured relation with respect to the body part 20. As one form of such coacting closure flaps 22. there is provided in the stated embodiment the main closure flap 22a, hingedly secured to the outer shell 2|, the oppositely related secondary flaps 22b, 22b, also hingedly secured to the sliding shell 2|, with which is combined the flap 22c, hingedly secured to the upper portion of the body part 20. Th flap is shown extending generally in like direction as the main closure flap 22a. Accordingly, when the stated coactlng closure flaps are moved to closing position as is illustrated in Fig. 4, the contents of the body part 20 are protected from exterior dust or other foreign substances and 'interiorly generally sealed against sifting of contents and loss of flavor and/or odor imparting constituents, moisture and the like, as well as thereby securing the outer shell 2| in fixed closed position relative to the body part 20.

The carton or container illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4 is particularly adapted for tobacco such as smoking and other forms of tobacco products, indicated 23. Desirably, and as is the custom for tobacco products, such contents 23 are per se enclosed in a wrapper usually of paper or like sheet material, thus enhancing the preservation Also, pursuant to the practice re-' ment, against tampering of contents, etc, and also necessitating the tearing of the stamp or other sealing medium to gain access to the contents.

A feature of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 6 is the capability of the carton or container to be reduced in size, especially desirable at one or more successive stages as the contents are dispensed. The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 through 6 illustrates a reduction to half size, as typical of reduction in size generally. To such end, the material of the body part is locally weakened to facilitate severing, as by providing one or more score lines 20a, shown for illustration as formed of serially spaced dot-and-dash lines of scoring which extend uniformly about the complete periphery of the body part 20, in

this instance centrally transversely thereof. When it is desired to reduce the body part 20 to such half or other partial size, the closure flaps 2 2 are'moved to open position and the slide shell 2| is moved downwardly relative to the body part 20 to thereby expose the severing scoreline 20a whereupon the upper portion of the body part 20 may be readily severed thereat, thus reducing the body part to its halved or other reduced size.

Such reduced size is illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the closure flaps 22a and22b are shown in open position; these closure flaps may then be moved to closed position, as'isshown in longitudinal central section inFig. 5, to afford placing the 1 same in a pocket of a garment or the like of the user or in other suitable place of storage, and thus protected against dust or other foreign material and generally also against loss of contents, etc.

The body part 20 per se may be formed pursuant to conventional practice to provide the same with the flap 22c and its closeable bottom 2022, through which the contents of the body part may be charged in'the original packaging of the cartonor container. 7

-As indicated in the drawings the terminal portions of the flaps 22a and 220 are tapered, arcuately tapered as shown, to facilitate entry, when closing, within the clearance between the pertinentends of the outer slide 2| and the body part 20, in the instance where the body part is of full size. When the upper part of the body part is severed; the flap 22c is also removed from the assembly, as appears from Figs, 5 and 6; the closure flaps 22a and lateral closure flaps 22b,

221), however, cooperating to close the dispensing opening of the body part.

When smoking tobacco or other contents are per se originally enclosed in a separate wrapper,

a common practice when the contents are charged by employment of'a conventional packaging machine of the weight packaging type, the opera tion of dispensing such contents from stage to stage results in expanding the contents remaining in the lower portion, of the body part and such expansion assists in increasing the friction between" the walls of the outer shell 2| and the walls of the remaining portion of the body part 20, thereby cooperating with the closure flaps 22a and 22b, 22b of the shell 2| to retain the outer shell upon the body part.

The embodiment typified by Figs. 7 and 8 corfill of weakened lines 2|a extending peripherally thereof corresponding to the number and relative positions of the weakened lines extending peripherally of the body part, to aiford corre sponding severing of both the outer shell and the body part upon reduction of size. A simple pro cedure for attaining such reduction of size is had by sliding the outer shell 2| downwardly relativ to the body part and thereafter severing the desired lower portion of the outer shell and the desired'upper portion of the body part.

Fig. 9 typifies a blank for forming the body part 20 and the indicated panels and other parts of the blank are designated correspondingly as above referred to. As appears from Fig. 9, the closure flap 220 may be integral with the material of the body part, the closable bottom being pro vided by the panels indicated 220. The panels 20 combine with the panels appearing topmost in Fig. 9 to form overlapping glue areas for effecting. the hollow formation of the body part.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 10, 11, and 12 corresponds in the main to that typified by Fgs. 1 through 6 and corresponding parts are designated by like reference characters. The embodiment shown in Figs. l0, l1, and 12 illustrate in particular the employment of means supplemental to the closure flaps for locking the outer shell 2| relative to the body part 20. Applicable to such arrangement and providing for reducing the body part to half size, Figs. 10, 11. and 12 illustrate two sets of locking means, an upper set when the outer slide or shell 2| is in uppermost position, and a lower set when the outerslide or shell 2| is in reduced position. Th upper set of locking means comprises the locking tongue 24 carried by the shell 2| which combines with the locking aperture 25 carried by the body part 2|]. For locking the shell 2| at lowermost position, the locking tongue. 24 coacts with the lowermost aperture 26 carried by the body part. Preferably, as shown, such sets of locking means are arranged on oppositely disposed lateral sides of the shell 2| and body part 2|]: Preferably, also, such locking tongues 24, 24 and locking apertures 25,25 and 26, 26 are formed by die-cutting the material of the shell 2| and body part 20.

The blanks illustrated in Figs, 13 and 14 are typical for forming the outer shell and body part of the carton or container of integral material. The panels corresponding to the stated sub-parts of the shell 2| and body 20 bear like reference characters.

Desirably, and as shown in Figs. 10 and 13, the employment of the stated positioning-setting means for the shell 2|, obviates the need of any closure flap (such as the closure flaps 220 of the respective embodiments shown in Figs. 1 through 6 and Figs. 7 through 9) for the uppermost portion of the body part 20. s

From the above, it is apparent that the invention embodies a carton or container having a body part formed of sheet material and capable of being knocked-down and when set up is provided with a dispensing opening at one end, the body part desirably being weakened at. predetermined locations, a foldable shell formed of sheet material and having a configuration when set up closely approximating that of th body part, the shell desirably being weakened at locations correspondfng to the weakened locations of said body part or inlieu thereof having a dimension corresponding to the spacing of a weakened portion of said body part from an end of said body part, and closure means for jointly closing the dispensing opening of said body part and for retaining said shell infixed position relative to said body part, said shell desirably, and said shell and said body part preferably jointly, having means for locking said shell in selected position relative to said body part.

'Whereas I have described m invention ,by reference to specific forms thereof/it will beunder stood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A carton or container comprising a body part of sheet material having a dispensing opening at or approximate one end, said body part being otherwise closed, a flap carried by said body part adjacent its dispensing opening, said body part being weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length to afford reduction of size, a shell formed of sheet material and embracing said body part and havinga configuration closely approximating the configuration of the said body part, said shell being weakened in a manner substantially corresponding to the weakening of said body part to afford corresponding reduction of size, said shell having'an open end adjacent the dispensing opening of said body part, and closure flap means carried by said shell proximate its said open end and arranged to embrace said flap of said body part for jointly closing the dispensing opening of said body partand for retaining said shell in fixed position relative to said body part.

2. A c -rton or container comprising a body part of sa -,1; material having a dispensing opening at or approximate one end, said body part being otherwise closed, a flap carried by sad body part adjacent its dispensing opening. said body part being weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length to afford reduction of size, a shell formed of sheet material and embracing said body part and having a configuration closely approximating the configuration of said body part, said shell havingv a length corresponding to the distance intervening'between said weakened line of said body part and the open end of said body part, said shell having an open end adjacent the dispensing opening of said body part, and closure flap means carried by said shell proximate its said open end and arranged to embrace said flap of said body part for jo ntly closing the dispensing opening of said body part and for retaining said shell in fixed position relative to said body part.

3. A carton or container comprising a body part of sheet material having a dispensing opening at or approximate one end, said body part being otherwise closed, a flap carried by said body part adjacent its dispensing opening. sa d body part being weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length to afford reduction of size, a shell formedof sheet material and embracing said body part and having a configuration closely approximating the configuration of the said body part, said shell being weakened in a manner substantially corresponding to the weakening of said body part to afiord corresponding reduction of size, said shell having an open end adjacent the dispensing opening of said body part, and closure flap means carried by said shell proximate its said open end and arranged to embrace said flap of said body part for jointly closing the dispensing opening of said body part and for retaining said shell in fixed position relative to said body part, said closure flap means comprising oppositely related flaps arranged to be inwardly disposed, and a flap arranged to encompass said oppositely related fiaps when in closed position and held by frictional engagement between said shell and said body part.

4. A carton or container comprising a body part of sheet material having a dispensing opening at or approximate one end, said body part being otherwise closed, said body part being weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length to afford reduction of size, a shell formed of sheet material and embracing said body part and having a configurationclosely approximating the configuration of the said body part, a flap carried by said body part proximate its dispensing opening, said shell being weakened in a V manner substantially corresponding to the weakening of said body part to afford corresponding reduction of size, said shell having an open end adjacent the dispensing opening of said body part and closure flap means carried by said shell proximate its said open end and arranged to embrace said flap of said body part and cooperating withsaid flap of said body part for jointly closing the dispensing opening of saidbody part and for retaining said shell in fixed position relative to said bodypart, said closure flap means comprising qppositely related flaps arranged to be inwardly disposed, and a fiap arranged to encompass said oppositely related fiaps when in closed position and held by frictional engagement between said shell and said body part.

5. A carton or container comprising a body part of sheet material having a dispensing opening at or approximate onerend, said body part being otherwise closed, said body part beingweakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length to afford reduction of size, a shell formed of sheet material and having a configuration closely approximating the configuration of said body part, said shell embracing said body part and open at its end adjacent the dispensing opening of said body part, said shell having a length corresponding to the distance intervening between said weakened line of said body part and the open end of said body part, and closure fiap means carried by said shell proximate the dispensing opening of said body part for jointly closing the dispensing opening of said body part and. for retaining said shell in fixed position relative to said body part, said closure flap means comprising oppositely related flaps arranged'to be inwardly disposed, and a flap arranged to encompass said oppositely related fiaps when in closed position and held by frictional engagement between said shell and said body part.

6. A carton or container comprising a body part of sheet material having a dispensing opening at or approximate one end, said body part being otherwise closed, said body part being weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length to afford reduction of size, a shell formed of sheet material and embracing said body part and having a configuration closely approximating the configuration of said body part, a flap can ried by said body part proximate its dispensing opening, said shell having a length correspond- .ing to the distance intervening between said' weakened line of said body part and the open end of said body part, said shell having an open end adjacent the dispensing opening of said body part, and closure fiap means carried by said shell proximate the dispensing opening of said body part and cooperating with said flap of said body part, for jointly closing the dispensing opening of said body part and for retaining said shell in fixed position relative to said body part, said closure fiap means comprising oppositely related fiaps arranged to be inwardly disposed, and a fiap arranged to encompasssaid oppositely related flaps when in closed position and held by frictional engagementbetween said shell and said "body part.

said body'part, closure fiap means carried by said shell proximate the dispensing opening of said body part for Jointly closing the dispensing opening of said body part and for retaining said shell in fixed position relative to said body part, and

respectively, cooperative locking means carried by said body part and shell for locking said shell 7 inposition relative to said body part.

Y 8. A carton or container comprising a body part of sheet material having a'dispensing opening at or approximate one end, said body part being otherwise closed, said body part being weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate 01 and transverselyto its length to afiord reduction of size, a shell formed 01' sheet material and embracing said body part and having a configuration closely approximating the configuration of said body part, said shell having an open end adjacent the dispensing opening of said body part and having a length correfsponding to the distance intervening between said weakened line of said body part and the open end of said body part, closure flap means carried by said shell proximate the dispensing opening of said body part for Jointly closing the dispensing opening of said body part and for retaining said shell in fixed position relative to said body part, and respective, cooperative locking means carried by said body part and shell for locking said shell in position relative to said body part.

9. A carton or container comprising a body part of sheet material having a dispensing opening at or approximate one end, said body part being otherwise closed, said body part being 'weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length to afford reduction of size, a shell formed of sheet material and embracing said body part and having a configuration closely approximating the configuration of said body part, said shell having an open end adjacent the dispensing opening of 'said body part and having a length corresponding to the distance intervening between said weakened line of said body part and theopen end of said body part, closure fiap means carried by said shell proximate the dispensing opening of said body part for jointly closing the dispensing opening of said body part and for retaining said shell in fixed position relative to said body part, and a plurality of sets of locking means jointly carried by said shell and said body part for locking said shell in selected positions relative to said body part corresponding to reduction of size ofsaid body part.

10. A box, reducible in size and formed from sheet material, comprising a box body adapted to contain material and having a dispensing opening; a tubular, open-ended shell, fitting closely about the said box body adjacent said dispensing opening and being slidable on said box body to positions relatively more remote from said dispensing opening, that open end of said shell which lies adjacent the said dispensing opening of the box body being provided with closure means which are foldable into and out of closing position over the said dispensing opening of the box body; and releasable means for retaining said shell in position on said box body, said box body being weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length so part of the length of said box body may 'be torn oil for the purpose of reducing the size of the box.

11. A box, reducible in size and formed from sheet material, comprising a box body adapted to contain material and having a dispensing opening provided with closure fiap structure; and a tubular, open-ended shell fitting closely about the said box body adjacent said dispensing opening and being slidable on said box body to positions relatively more remote from said dispensing opening, that open end of said shell which lies adjacent the said dispensing opening of the box body being provided with closure-supporting tabs which are folded inwardly and lie under the said closure fiap structure of said box body, supporting the same, said open end of said shell being provided, further, with closure flap structure which tucks in between said shell and said box body and retains the closure flap structure of said box body in place as well as securing said shell in position on said box body, said box body being weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length so part of the length of said box body may be torn ofi for the purpose of reducing the size of the box.

12. A box, reducible in size and formed from sheet material, comprising a box body adapted to contain material and having a dispensing opening; a tubular, open-ended shell, fitting closely about the said box body adjacent said dispensing opening and being slidable on said box body to positions relatively more remote from said dispensing opening, that open end of said shell which lies adjacent the said dispensing opening of the box body being provided with closure means which are foldable into and out of closing position over the said dispensing opening of the box body; and respective cooperative locking means carried by said box bodyand said shell for retaining said shell in position on said box body, said box body being weakened along a line which extends peripherally thereof intermediate of and transversely to its length so part of the length of said box body may be torn off for the purpose of reducing the size of the box.

. WILLIAM A. RINGLER. 

